K12

After taking her second grade class on a field trip to a Native American farm, Marisa Dudiak decided to implement a web log for her students. Teaching at a school in Frederick County, Maryland, Ms. Dudiak chose for her students to go only to the class blog, and post what they thought about the field trip. She felt that the experience would be more fruitful than a class discussion, led by herself, and she was right. She found that the students reacted to each other, and children that were normally quiet in class came out of their shell. Article on Dudiak’s Class Blog

Spain Park High School in Hoover, AL has begun a blog for the school’s photography club. The blog is in addition to a facebook page, so it is clear the high school has embraced technology. On the blog, the teacher, Mr. Myer’s, posts an assignment. The students then go into the field and take photos. When they have fulfilled the assignment, they post their photos to the blog. The teacher then picks some stand outs to leave up on the blog. Students can vote for their favorite photo in the comment area of the blog. SPHS Photography Club Blog

For teachers, blogs are user-friendly and low maintenance. They are easily able to continue class discussions and provide feedback to students more quickly, using the blogs. Students are also able to easily interact with one another. Some teachers believe that students put more effort into their blog writing, because they know it will also be visible to their peers.